Alpha King Begs Me Back

Alyia's POV

Tonight was the global launch event for Sterling Corporation's intelligent medical project targeting high-ranking werewolf genetic diseases—the most important day of my year. This was my coronation, my chance to prove myself to Sterling Corporation.

I stood stage-side, releasing a quiet breath as I straightened my cuffs.

For this medical project designed to stabilize volatile high-ranking werewolves during their aggressive phases, I'd flown to twelve werewolf territories, met with hundreds of investors, and survived three consecutive months sleeping less than four hours per night. Conference room sofas, office floors, airport lounges—all had served as my bed.

Everyone in the corporation said this project was Alpha King and CEO Daniel Sterling's personal creation—his benevolent gift to the werewolf community.

Only I knew the truth.

The person who transformed it from a business proposal into reality was me.

Daniel only had to stand in the spotlight at the end and accept the applause.

I'd grown accustomed to it long ago. After all, cleaning up his messes and earning him accolades was exactly what I, as Vice President, was supposed to do.

"Now, please welcome Sterling Corporation's Vice President, Ms. Alyia Carter."

Thunderous applause erupted, accompanied by the scrutinizing gazes of countless high-ranking werewolves below. I lifted my professional smile, suppressing the unease inherent to my low-ranking wolf status, and walked confidently onto the stage.

The spotlight illuminated me as I surveyed the packed audience—partners from major werewolf packs, heavyweight investors, and dozens of international media outlets specializing in werewolf affairs.

My gaze habitually swept to the front row, to the throne reserved exclusively for Alpha King Daniel.

Empty. I wasn't surprised in the slightest.

The host explained that Daniel was handling urgent business and had entrusted me with full authority over the launch.

No one questioned it. Everyone knew I was Daniel's most trusted person.

Only I knew he was currently with another woman.

I tightened my grip on the presentation remote.

It didn't matter. He'd left me countless messes before—this was just one more. After the launch, I'd do what I always did: use flawless PR tactics to clean up after this arrogant Alpha.

"Thank you all for joining us tonight—"

I hadn't even finished my sentence when the massive screen behind me suddenly flickered.

The next second, a woman's fragmented, breathy moans transmitted through the sound system, filling the entire ballroom.

The air seemed to freeze instantly. I whipped around.

On the screen was a presidential suite in a top-tier luxury hotel. Daniel wore a black dress shirt as he pressed a tall, slender woman against the floor-to-ceiling windows. His hand gripped her slim waist while she arched her head back, exposing her long, pale neck. Her ballet practice leotard slowly slipped off her shoulders, and the camera captured them kissing passionately, utterly unable to pull apart.

The entire venue fell deathly silent.

Then—click.

The first camera flash went off.

Like sharks scenting blood, every reporter rushed forward simultaneously.

"Oh my God! Isn't that woman the international prima ballerina Della Hart?"

"Mr. Sterling is Sterling's Alpha—didn't he get married two years ago through the Moon Goddess's oracle?"

"So Della's been his mistress this entire time?"

"Has Sterling Corporation been covering up executive scandals all along?"

"Ms. Alyia! Please answer!"

Dozens of microphones jabbed toward my face, blinding camera flashes making it nearly impossible to keep my eyes open.

Staff descended into chaos—some frantically shutting down the screen, others cutting power—but the video continued looping.

My earpiece vibrated lightly. Daniel's low, calm voice came through.

"Don't panic."

Through the faint soul bond between Wolf King and Luna, a fragile flicker of hope rose in my chest. The next second, his words shoved me into a bottomless abyss.

"Tell them the woman in the video is you."

My breathing hitched.

"...What?"

"Publicly admit that woman is you." His tone remained clinical, as if discussing the weather. "After the launch ends, voluntarily submit your resignation. I'll handle the rest."

I stood frozen, hearing nothing but my increasingly labored breathing.

So this was his solution.

Make me take all the blame for Della. Make me the homewrecker. Make me voluntarily resign from the project I'd spent an entire year building.

All to protect Della's reputation.

I couldn't help closing my eyes, chest compressed as if something heavy were pressing down on it.

No one knew that the reporters were talking about Daniel being "married"—his secret wife was actually me.

Two years ago, everyone knew Daniel had been forced by the Moon Goddess's oracle to marry someone, and ballet prodigy Della had left the country heartbroken. What no one knew was that I'd harbored a secret crush on Daniel for seven full years.

He was the privileged golden boy at school with an illustrious background, while I was just a low-ranking orphan werewolf, mocked by everyone, grinding for scholarships.

I thought my crush would quietly end after graduation. Instead, the Moon Goddess delivered him to me as my husband.

Back then, I believed that with enough effort, he'd eventually love me.

Two years of marriage brought me nothing but coldness.

In public, I was his Vice President. In private, I was his personal crisis manager.

His business rivals—I negotiated with them. His contracts—I signed them. His scandals—I buried them.

Every time I thought I'd reached my limit, he showed me it could get worse.

"Ms. Alyia, please respond!"

"Are you confirming this through your silence?"

"Is the video authentic?"

The reporters' voices dragged me back to reality. Everyone was waiting for my answer. I looked around.

No. Today wasn't just his launch—it was mine too.

I walked to center stage and picked up the microphone.

I didn't reveal even a trace of panic. Instead, my lips curved into a cold, mocking smile.

"You're all elite journalists covering werewolf affairs. I'm certain you understand what today represents far better than I do."

I used the laser pointer's red dot to indicate the frozen frame, speaking in measured tones:

"Tonight marks the global premiere of Sterling Corporation's intelligent medical project. Once fully implemented, this will completely rewrite the treatment market for high-ranking Alpha genetic diseases. Just ten minutes ago, our biggest competitor concluded their launch event one block away."

The reporters exchanged glances, many expressions shifting as they sensed something off.

"At such an extraordinarily sensitive juncture of competing interests, a scandalous video suddenly appears—riddled with obvious flaws and deliberately tampered timestamps. Don't you find the timing of this crude smear campaign a bit too convenient?"

I turned my head, facing the dozens of cameras directly, my gaze razor-sharp:

"First, Sterling Corporation executives' schedules and privacy are protected by elite security teams—far beyond what ordinary paparazzi could infiltrate. Second, the video was strategically timed to breach our systems during the media Q&A segment, when our firewalls are most vulnerable. This is clearly a premeditated commercial cyberattack."

I set down the remote and folded my hands in front of me, expression calm yet radiating absolute authority:

"This is organized, premeditated malicious corporate warfare. Our competitors' objective is to use cheap tabloid scandals to destroy a groundbreaking project that could benefit the entire werewolf community."

"Sterling Corporation's legal and cybersecurity teams have already traced the attack source and completed evidence collection. We will pursue full criminal liability against our competitors for malicious manipulation of public opinion and illegal theft of corporate reputation."

My voice echoed through the silent ballroom.

"If media outlets still wish to continue serving as free pawns in this dirty corporate war, I'm more than happy to oblige. If not—"

I flashed my standard professional smile, spine held straight.

"Please allow me to continue introducing tonight's truly newsworthy content—the intelligent medical innovation that will genuinely benefit our entire species."

After brief silence, applause erupted. The scene that had nearly spiraled out of control was pulled back on track by me.

I knew that tomorrow, every media outlet would praise Sterling Corporation's swift crisis management.

They'd praise Daniel's leadership.

Not a single person would know I'd saved everything, just like countless times before.

My earpiece vibrated again. I thought perhaps Daniel was finally going to say thank you.

Instead, a woman's soft, coquettish moan drilled into my ear.

"Mmm... Daniel..."

My entire body went rigid. Then came a man's low, husky chuckle.

"Focus."

Della laughed softly.

"She must still be cleaning up your mess right now."

Daniel didn't deny it. Didn't disconnect the line.

In that instant, I finally understood—he hadn't forgotten to cut the feed. This was deliberate.

He deliberately wanted me to know that even as I fought to protect his entire corporation, he simply didn't care.

I didn't explode in anger or demand explanations. I simply raised my hand and removed the earpiece.

Then let go. It clattered onto the stage, producing a crisp sound as it rolled several times before stopping in the spotlight's center.

I looked down at it, my heart strangely calm.

Daniel had no love for me—only duty toward the Moon Goddess's oracle. His cold indifference, his complete disregard, even his parade of bedmates during our two-year marriage—I could endure all of it. Because I knew he had no room in his heart for me, but equally none for those other women either.

That was simply his nature. I thought I could continue this self-deception indefinitely, staying by his side forever. After all, I'd crushed on him for ten full years—he was practically the only faith I'd ever known.

But everything changed three months ago when Della returned with great fanfare. He began indulging Della without limits, granting her favoritism and privileges exceeding everything else, repeatedly lowering the bar of his cruelty toward me, crushing every last shred of my humble hope.

I loved him. I could tolerate having no place in his heart. But my self-respect wouldn't allow him to trample on me endlessly for another woman.

This is the ninety-sixth time. Every time he hurt me, every time he let me down — I kept count.

When I reach ninety-nine, I'll let go. Walk away from him for good.

Daniel, you think I'll always be here. But let me tell you — if the day ever comes when I truly no longer want you, you'll regret it before you even have the chance to react. Of that, I am more certain than anyone.